Aston Villa put £100m expansion on hold to 're-evaluate plans'

Work to completely rebuild the North Stand, increasing the capacity beyond 50,000, was expected to start next summer.

But in a video address posted on Villa’s official website, the club’s president of business operations Chris Heck said the project was now being re-evaluated.

Heck, appointed last May after planning permission for the rebuild had already been granted, claimed to have become “concerned” the club were trying to add “too many seats, too fast.”

Villa Park’s current capacity of 42,600 would have been reduced to around 34,000 while the work took place.

Unai Emery’s team currently sit third in the Premier League, just one point off top spot, recently setting a new club record of 15 consecutive home league wins.

Heck explained: “We have 42,000 seats. A substantial amount. To add on 10,000 right now doesn’t seem practical to me.

“We talk about Villa Park being a fortress. It is true. I think it would be a bad idea to tear down one of the stands for two years while we are playing like we are.

“Going forward, I think everything should be about all fans and not just one particular stand.”

Villa have more than 30,000 fans on a season ticket waiting list and were keen to raise the stadium's capacity to cope with demand.

But Heck also has worries about how the infrastructure around the stadium would cope with increased numbers. The club have been lobbying the local authorities to make improvements to Witton Station.

Heck continued: “They are extremely ambitious ideas. During the summer months I became concerned we were adding too many seats too fast.

“I believe it was important we took a step back and re-evaluate what is best for our fans.

“I mention this with the transportation and the parking situation.”

Though Heck's announcement will come as a surprise to many, Villa are confident it should not impact their ability to host matches at Euro 2028. A proposed upgrade of facilities within the Trinity Road Stand, in order to bring them up to Uefa compliance, is still expected to proceed as planned.

Heck said the club would also push ahead with renovating the former Villa academy building, situated on the North Stand car park.

Other projects will see the club shop expanded to twice its current size, while further work will take place to improve the Bodymoor Heath training ground.